Assembly for deploying a payload from a submarine

Abstract

A submarine ( 1 ) has an assembly ( 3 ) for deploying a life raft ( 5 ), the assembly ( 3 ) being located in a well ( 7 ) formed outside the submarine's pressure hull ( 11 ). The assembly includes a pressure vessel ( 4 ) for storing the life raft ( 5 ) in a pressurized state. To deploy underwater, a lid ( 71 ) covering an opening to the well ( 7 ) is released to permit the assembly ( 3 ), which is buoyant, to ascend towards the water surface. A sensor ( 43 ) determines proximity to the water surface, whereby a pneumatic ram ( 42 ) in the pressure vessel is activated to eject the life raft ( 5 ) from the pressure vessel ( 4 ).

1. A submarine comprising an assembly for deploying a payload from the submarine, the assembly being releasably held on or in the submarine at a position outside the submarine's pressure hull and including a pressure vessel storing the payload in a pressurized state, the assembly being buoyant in water when the payload is stored in the pressure vessel,
 wherein the pressure vessel includes an opening covered by a releasable cover, 
 the pressure vessel also including a ram for forcing the payload through the opening, the ram having an engagement surface for releasably engaging the payload, the payload being located between the engagement surface and the opening, and 
 wherein the assembly includes a sensor for sensing whether it is at or near the water surface, and wherein the ram is arranged to force the payload through the opening if the sensor senses that it is at or near the water surface. 
 
     
     
       2. A submarine according to  claim 1 , wherein the assembly is arranged to enable the ram for use after it is released from the submarine. 
     
     
       3. A submarine according to  claim 1 , wherein the ram includes an inflatable air jack connected via a firing valve to a reservoir of compressed air. 
     
     
       4. A submarine according to  claim 1 , wherein the releasable cover is held onto the pressure vessel by a retaining strap,
 wherein the submarine includes a strap release mechanism connected to the retaining strap and arranged to release the strap from the releasable cover on operation of an actuator. 
 
     
     
       5. A submarine according to  claim 4 , wherein the assembly is located in a well which includes an opening to an environment outside the submarine, the opening being covered by a detachable lid,
 wherein the submarine includes a lid release mechanism connected to the lid and arranged to release the lid from the opening on operation of an actuator. 
 
     
     
       6. A submarine according to  claim 5 , wherein the actuator is connected to both the strap release mechanism and the lid release mechanism, such that operation of the actuator causes operation of both the strap release mechanism and the lid release mechanism. 
     
     
       7. A submarine according to  claim 1 , wherein the payload includes a life raft. 
     
     
       8. A submarine comprising an assembly for deploying a payload from the submarine, the assembly being releasably held on or in the submarine at a position outside the submarine's pressure hull and including a pressure vessel storing the payload in a pressurized state, and the payload is connected to the submarine after being released from the pressure vessel, the assembly being buoyant in water when the payload is stored in the pressure vessel,
 the pressure vessel having an opening covered by a releasable cover, and 
 wherein the assembly includes a sensor for sensing whether it is at or near the water surface, and the pressure vessel has a cover release mechanism arranged to release the cover from the opening if the sensor senses that it is at or near the water surface. 
 
     
     
       9. A submarine according to  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor or a sonar device arranged to sense proximity to a water surface. 
     
     
       10. A submarine according to  claim 8 , wherein the cover release mechanism comprises a ram for forcing the payload through the opening, the ram having an engagement surface for releasably engaging the payload, the payload being located between the engagement surface and the opening. 
     
     
       11. A submarine according to  claim 8 , wherein the releasable cover is held onto the pressure vessel by a retaining strap, and
 wherein the submarine includes a strap release mechanism connected to the retaining strap and arranged to release the strap from the releasable cover on operation of an actuator. 
 
     
     
       12. A submarine according to  claim 11 , wherein the assembly is located in a well which includes an opening to an environment outside the submarine, the opening being covered by a detachable lid,
 wherein the submarine includes a lid release mechanism connected to the lid and arranged to release the lid from the opening on operation of an actuator. 
 
     
     
       13. A submarine according to  claim 12 , wherein the assembly is located in a well which includes an opening to an environment outside the submarine, the opening being covered by a detachable lid,
 wherein the submarine includes a lid release mechanism connected to the lid and arranged to release the lid from the opening on operation of an actuator. 
 
     
     
       14. A submarine according to  claim 8 , wherein the assembly is located in a support cage, which support cage is connected to the rest of the submarine via at least one shock mount. 
     
     
       15. A submarine according to  claim 14 , wherein the assembly is held within the support cage by a retaining strap,
 wherein the submarine includes a strap release mechanism connected to the retaining strap and arranged to release the strap from the support cage on operation of an actuator. 
 
     
     
       16. A submarine according to  claim 8  including an actuator for launching the assembly from the submarine. 
     
     
       17. A submarine according to  claim 8 , wherein the assembly is located in a well formed between the submarine's pressure hull and outer hull. 
     
     
       18. A submarine according to  claim 17 , wherein the well includes an opening to an environment outside the submarine, the opening being covered by a detachable lid, whereby detaching the lid causes the assembly to be launched from the submarine. 
     
     
       19. A submarine according to  claim 18 , wherein the lid is manually detachable. 
     
     
       20. A submarine according to  claim 8 , wherein the payload is connected to the pressure vessel and the pressure vessel is connected to the submarine. 
     
     
       21. A submarine according to  claim 20 , wherein the pressure vessel is connected to the submarine by detachable tether. 
     
     
       22. A submarine comprising an assembly for deploying a payload from the submarine, the assembly being releasably held on or in the submarine at a position outside the submarine's pressure hull and including a pressure vessel storing the payload in a pressurized state, the assembly being buoyant in water when the payload is stored in the pressure vessel,
 wherein the pressure vessel has an opening covered by a frangible releasable cover, and 
 wherein the assembly includes a sensor for sensing whether it is at or near the water surface, and in that the pressure vessel has a cover release mechanism arranged to release the cover from the opening if the sensor senses that it is at or near the water surface. 
 
     
     
       23. A submarine comprising an assembly for deploying a payload from the submarine, which payload includes a life raft, the assembly being releasably held on or in the submarine at a position outside the submarine's pressure hull and including a pressure vessel storing the payload in a pressurized state, the assembly being buoyant in water when the payload is stored in the pressure vessel,
 wherein the pressure vessel has an opening covered by a releasable cover, and 
 wherein the assembly includes a sensor for sensing whether it is at or near the water surface, and in that the pressure vessel has a cover release mechanism arranged to release the cover from the opening if the sensor senses that it is at or near the water surface. 
 
     
     
       24. A submarine according to  claim 23 , wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor or a sonar device arranged to sense proximity to a water surface. 
     
     
       25. A submarine according to  claim 23 , wherein the cover release mechanism comprises a ram for forcing the payload through the opening, the ram having an engagement surface for releasably engaging the payload, the payload being located between the engagement surface and the opening. 
     
     
       26. A submarine according to  claim 23 , wherein the releasable cover is held onto the pressure vessel by a retaining strap, and
 wherein the submarine includes a strap release mechanism connected to the retaining strap and arranged to release the strap from the releasable cover on operation of an actuator. 
 
     
     
       27. A submarine according to  claim 23 , wherein the assembly is located in a well which includes an opening to an environment outside the submarine, the opening being covered by a detachable lid,
 wherein the submarine includes a lid release mechanism connected to the lid and arranged to release the lid from the opening on operation of an actuator. 
 
     
     
       28. A submarine according to  claim 23 , wherein the assembly is located in a support cage, which support cage is connected to the rest of the submarine via at least one shock mount. 
     
     
       29. A submarine according to  claim 28 , wherein the assembly is held within the support cage by a retaining strap,
 wherein the submarine includes a strap release mechanism connected to the retaining strap and arranged to release the strap from the support cage on operation of an actuator. 
 
     
     
       30. A submarine according to  claim 23  including an actuator for launching the assembly from the submarine. 
     
     
       31. A submarine according to  claim 23 , wherein the assembly is located in a well formed between the submarine's pressure hull and outer hull. 
     
     
       32. A submarine according to  claim 31 , wherein the well includes an opening to an environment outside the submarine, the opening being covered by a detachable lid, whereby detaching the lid causes the assembly to be launched from the submarine. 
     
     
       33. A submarine according to  claim 23 , wherein the payload is connected to the pressure vessel and the pressure vessel is connected to the submarine.